M25 Closure Causes Severe Delays After Crash

A lorry crash on the M25 has caused rush hour traffic delays after the Highways Agency closed part of the motorway in both directions for much of the day.

Police said there were severe delays on the northern part of the M25 after it was shut in both directions between junction 23 at South Mimms in Hertfordshire and junction 25 at the junction with the A10 north of Enfield in north London.

One lane of the clockwise M25 has since been re-opened to traffic between junctions 24 and 25, according to the Highways Agency.

Clockwise traffic caught immediately behind the crash has now been released. The anti-clockwise carriageway is expected to remain closed throughout rush hour.

Motorists have been asked to consider alternative routes in the area.

Police have arrested the lorry driver on suspicion of causing serious injury by dangerous driving. He remains in custody at a police station in north London.

Many drivers have taken to Twitter to express their frustration at the delays.

“Thanks M25 – Nothing like spending 6 hours in traffic to round off your week,” wrote David Hobson.

“M25 & M4 worse and longer than return crossing of the channel,” said Twitter user Mandy Pickford.

“On the way to Portsmouth, this M25 traffic has killed me,” wrote Sam Ling.

Others were more upbeat about the incident. 

“M25 is shut in both directions this is the time where all the little rat runs you learn working in a van pay off,” wrote Daniel Cooper.

Four people were hurt when the lorry overturned around 9:30am, forcing police to close the carriageway while emergency services attended the scene.

One man was taken to a hospital in Cambridgeshire by the Hertfordshire Ambulance Service, where he remains in a critical condition.

A second man was taken to a central London hospital by the London Air Ambulance in a serious condition.

A third man is being treated at a central London hospital for a leg injury. The fourth man received treatment at the scene for minor injuries.

It is the second time in three days the M25 has partially closed.

On Tuesday, the M25 had to be closed between J23 and J25 after the driver of a lorry died when the vehicle overturned and caught fire near J25.

Source Article from http://uk.news.yahoo.com/m25-closure-causes-severe-delays-crash-143215499.html

M25 Closure Causes Severe Delays After Crash